I think what is forgotten about the footy show is that it isn't really made for hardcore footy fans. They are already watching the games on nine and reading newspapers/magazines, playing supercoach, and all that stuff. The footy show is there to catch people that like The Block and Big Brother and to give the NRL, nine, and their sponsors some crossover with a different audience.
Hardcore footy fans have foxtel and their footy magazine shows are more serious. Nobody watches Sterlo or NRL360 unless they are footy heads. FTA has a broader audience. The Game Plan was meant to be a serious footy show on FTA - it failed.